XVI. THE HEAVENS 



"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his 

 handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth 

 knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard". 



Ps. XIX: vv. i, 2, 3. 



Poets and philosophers in all ages have gained inspiration 

 as they have contemplated the heavens, and striven to formu- 

 late and express the thoughts of the Infinite to which these 

 studies have given birth. Early literature contains number- 

 less allusions to astronomical myth and fact. To catch the 

 subtle meaning of many a passage of literary excellence re- 

 quires some acquaintance with Astronomy. A knowledge 

 of high school physics renders comparatively easy the read- 

 ing of books on general astronomy. 



But one does not need to be an astronomer in order to know 

 something about the universe outside the earth, and to com- 

 prehend something of the significance of what is visible to 

 him of the celestial sphere both by day and by night. 



Not only may a person become more appreciative of the 

 beauty of the sky as apparently it moves in ceaseless round 

 above him, but some definite knowledge of what is seen 

 enriches and stimulates his intellectual life. An intimate 

 knowledge of plant growths by field and forest and stream 

 makes life more enjoyable to us; intimate acquaintances 

 among people gives pleasures to life which no crowds of those 

 unknown to us and to whom we are indifferent can give. 

 So an acquaintanceship " amongst the stars" yields an ever- 

 increasing pleasure as the years go by. To be an astronomer 

 onfc must become skilled in mathematics; but there is avail- 

 able to every one in the realm of Astronomy a vast fund of 



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